But one thing is clear to me. Europe is not in a good place right now. And accepted ways of thinking aren't going to get us anywhere new.sentence permalink

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Not in terms of women's equality. And nor in terms of a stronger, more competitive economy.sentence permalink

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When it comes to how society treats women, we've come a long way. When I was starting out as a Dutch member of parliament, I remember listening to a debate led by another deputy: older and of course male.sentence permalink

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I didn't agree with him and had a serious political point to make against his argument.sentence permalink

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Yet, when I intervened to make that point, the only response he made was to complement me on my looks and clothes.sentence permalink

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Not engaging with the issues that mattered to my and our country, but just engaging in everyday sexism.sentence permalink

Today we're not in the 1970s any more. Thank heavens. Young women today don't have to stand for that kind of thing – not as often, anyway. They have a wider horizons, greater opportunities, fewer people telling them what they can and can't do as women.sentence permalink

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But look a bit closer and there are still many areas where, for one reason and another, women are missing out.sentence permalink

Information and Communications Technology is an amazing, innovative platform. The tools you have at home, at work, or even in your pocket, are changing everything we do, what we do and how we do it, in every area you can think of.sentence permalink

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And nowhere do you see the many applications of that technology, more than in the sector of web startups.sentence permalink

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It is among Europe's web entrepreneurs that I see the most innovations, transformations, inspirations.sentence permalink

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Most of all, it's where I see the hope for our future: to create ideas, generate jobs, and open up opportunities.sentence permalink

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Europe needs to better support those startups: in terms of culture, resources, and recognition.sentence permalink

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The Startup Manifesto, prepared by a team of top European entrepreneurial talent, contains some clear ideas for what we can do that. 22 actions — with 6000 signatures, and counting.sentence permalink

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Creating growth and jobs through a better environment for all entrepreneurs – whatever their gender.sentence permalink

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Yet women in particular are missing out. Especially among ICT sector entrepreneurs: fewer than one in five of whom are women. Only three percent of women with a degree have it in ICT, compared to nearly ten percent of men.sentence permalink

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Then, it gets worse. Only one in seven women with an ICT degree then go on to work in the ICT sector; and many leave the sector mid-career. So you have not enough women among managers and decision-makers. And not enough women among the communities that matter to entrepreneurs – like angel investors and venture capital.sentence permalink

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And let’s not forget the girls and the young women out there. This week is European code week. The young woman who launched is Slovenian.sentence permalink

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She wants to get everyone in Europe coding, because is it a skill that we will all need. She has mobilised over 200 coding activities across our continent involving kids, teachers, coders, startups, parents and grandparents. Coding is fun, and she wants everyone to know it.sentence permalink

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But she does not know how to get her local politicians interested. And she has told me she may not vote in the next European elections – because she believes that we, the politicians, are not listening to her.sentence permalink

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Let me remind you why this matters.

Exactly 120 years ago women were first given the national vote, in New Zealand. That is the anniversary we celebrate today.sentence permalink

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That change was made following a long campaign. The petition for female suffrage contained tens of thousands signatures, all handwritten onto a scroll 250 metres long. Kate Sheppard physically took it to the New Zealand Parliament and dramatically unrolled it, right there in the chamber.sentence permalink

But today we have more modern tools for political campaigning. Digital tools.sentence permalink

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From brave young girls blogging for girls' right to education: like Malala Yousafzai, awarded the Sakharov Prize just last week.sentence permalink

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To social media tools that give citizens a new way to interact with their representatives.sentence permalink

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To online campaigns that can give a platform to disparate, deserving political causes.sentence permalink

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In short, digital is taking over politics and giving a new voice to the people, and to women.sentence permalink

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But politics is just one example. This tool opens up so many new opportunities: from connecting with distant family, to new ways to promote your bright business idea. No longer a tool for teenage boys in lonely bedrooms, it matters for everyone.sentence permalink

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From hoteliers to health workers, doctors to designers, whatever you're doing, digital tools can probably help you build new, vibrant and active communities. That's why ICT skills are the new literacy.sentence permalink

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Meanwhile the EU Internet economy is growing fast. And generating jobs in its wake.sentence permalink

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Indeed, soon the ICT sector could face a shortfall of nearly one million workers, because not enough people have the right skills.sentence permalink

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And already the European app economy alone employs 800,000 people. Some of them working to become the next multi-millionaire Mark Zuckerberg or Martha Lane Fox. Others just pursuing a hobby or supporting their community.sentence permalink

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That change is good for our economy, and good for our society. But it also means that, if you're not on board with digital, you're in danger of missing out on a huge opportunity.sentence permalink

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That worries me. Our society needs change and innovation. And the digital sector can provide it like no other.sentence permalink

Because every woman working in this sector brings a triple boost; for themselves, for their employers, and for the economy.sentence permalink

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Women in the ICT sector earn 9% more than in other sectors – and it's a great career, fun and challenging, varied and creative.sentence permalink

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Organisations that are more gender inclusive get a 34% higher return on investment. And, if women held digital jobs as frequently as men, the annual gain for the European economy would be around 9 billion euros.sentence permalink

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9 billion euros! Just imagine how many computers we can buy for schools with that money!sentence permalink

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In short: I am glad that women are trying to improve their communities by going into politics. But this is only the first step. Women are not taking up the opportunities available in ICT.sentence permalink

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And that worries me. It worries me that they do not feel they have the freedom and confidence to work in this sector.sentence permalink

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It worries me that they might feel excluded, or that the sector is not for them. It worries me that our economy is underperforming as a result.sentence permalink